Folding machine for soft goods

ABSTRACT

A folding apparatus for the multiple folding of soft goods comprising a pair of upper folding plate members operated in a direction opposite to each other in a horizontal plane and a plane transverse to the horizontal plane, a pair of transverse folding arms arranged below the pair of upper plate members operated in a direction opposite to each other, a pair of longitudinal side folding arms arranged at a different plane with respect to each other between the folding plate members and the transverse folding arms and being operated in a direction opposite to each other, a transverse folding plate arranged in the region lying between the transverse folding arms and being operated to be insertable into the space between the pair of transverse folding arms pressing the transverse folding plates are pressed onto a bearing surface, the longitudinal side folding arms, the upper folding plate members are arranged to form a first folding station while the transverse folding plates and said transverse folding arms are arranged for forming a second folding station.

United States Patent [191 {111 3,9 Arbter 5] Nov. 11, 1975 FOLDING MACHINE FOR SOFT GOODS Primary E.\'uminerEdgar S. Burr 76 Inventor: Conrad Arbt 9 l l 1 10, Assistant E.\'uminerA. Heinz I Saul an der 2 8 z m Attorney, Agent, or FirmErnest F. Marmorek PP N04 514,374 A folding apparatus for the multiple folding of soft Rdated Application Data goods comprising adpair of upper folding pllate lrlnern- I ers operate in a irectlon opposite to eac ot er in [63] of 368942 lune 1973 a horizontal plane and a plane transverse to the horizontal plane, a pair of transverse folding arms ar- [30] Foreign Application Priority Data range? h Of.upper plate members Qper' G 7 8 ated in a direction opposite to each other, a pan of June 08 longitudinal side folding arms arranged at a different plane with respect to each other between the folding 2701/3669 H 219/83 plate members and me transverse folding arms and 2 being operated in a direction opposite to each other, a g 2 "g" 86 f transverse folding plate arranged in the region lying 5 between the transverse folding arms and being operated to be insertable into the space between the pair R f d of transverse folding arms pressing the transverse folde erences ing plates are pressed onto a bearing surface, the lon- UNITED STATES PATENTS gitudinal side folding arms, the upper folding plate 2,699,936 1/1955 Dixon et al. 270/84 members are arranged to form a first folding station 2.750.186 6/1956 Bruneau et al. 270/66 X while the transverse folding plates and said transverse N )l:-f

folding arms are arranged for forming a second folding l'ltllS t 3,685,818 8/1972 Burger et al. 270/69 X S d on 17 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 23 "llllfll 15 I II I I] ELEMENT ll 'll'llll l. REST POSITION WORKING :2 1 I POSITION 9 3 /-3 5 T IL-"2; ,IJ

HORIZONTAL l v ggai rh MOVEMIENT l l I E HI if I l* '|5 L l ELEMENT l0 i l REST POSITION 21 11. 16 I v 13 10\/ '\ll 1 l I 8 #SSFTiBN CF3F E u k 12 P O S il I SN ELEMENT l2 max HORlZONTAL VERTICAL MOVEMENT MOVEMENT US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 2 of8 I 3,918,699

Fig. 2

REST POSlTlON) POSITION l L--- \woRKms US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet3of8 3,918,699

REST PQSYHON 0F PLATE \2 WORNNQ POSTION OF PLATE \2.

US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet5 of8 3,918,699

US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet 6 0f8 3,918,699

US. Patent N0v.11, 1975 Sheet7of8 3,918,699

US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet8of-8 3,918,699

FOLDING MACHINE FOR SOFT GOODS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 368,942, filed June 11, 1973 and now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multiple folding apparatus for soft articles, such as textile articles or paper articles, including a plurality of cooperating longitudinal and transverse folding arms operable according to a predetermined sequence and which cooperate with folding plates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For the folding of textile articles there has been known folding apparatus which employ a folding plate which cooperates with a pair of longitudinal fold arms which are vertically spaced with respect to each other and adapted to move toward each other. In such known apparatus the article to be folded is brought into the area of the folding apparatus so that the middle portion is lying under the level of the folding plate while both its edge regions are lying on the longitudinal side folding arms of the machine. The side folding arms perform an operating movement toward each other and in sequence, thereby they perform an overlapping of the article from the two side regions by making two folds. The pre-folded article next by means of an intermediate delivery device is delivered into the region of a second folding station which is arranged transversely with respect to the first folding station and is provided with a transverse folding plate as well as with transverse folding arms movable towards each other and arranged vertically with respect to each other. The last mentioned folding means perform an operation similar to the folding means of the first folding station, that is, each of them perform a single folding. As aresult, the article which has been folded once longitudinally and once transversely, will now be delivered by a delivery conveyor to a stacking station.

Folding apparatus of this kind which spread out the article to be folded on a supply table and bring it in a spread-out state to the first folding station and which after the folding in the first station is subsequently delivered to a second folding station, are extremely space consuming and possess a disadvantage also in that the guiding of the goods between the two stations which are spaced from each other is time consuming and takes a longer time to move the goods between the first and second folding stations than the folding time required in each station or, even more, than the sum of the total folding time required for folding the article. It is also noted that the driving of the articles and the moving of the articles between the stations can be solved with relatively simple constructive means if the desire is only to accelerate such movement, however, it has been found that the article leaving the supply table can not be spread out anymore and this fact might create inaccuracies in performing the folding operation.

Reference should be had to my copending application Ser. No. 318,241 filed Dec. 26, 1972 which is now US. Pat. No. 3,796,171.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved folding apparatus for soft articles or goods, such as textile goods or paper goods, in which the article can undergo a multiple folding process without requiring that the article have to be moved between adjacent folding stations as heretofore has been required and, in which the article is operated on simultaneously by a plurality of folding devices and, wherein only a single bearing surface is required to support the article which must be in size bigger than the largest surface of the article to be folded.

According to the present invention, the folding apparatus for the multiple folding of soft goods comprises a pair of upper folding plate members operated in a direction opposite to each other in a horizontal plane and a plane transverse to the horizontal plane, a pair of transverse folding arms arranged below the pair of upper plate members operated in a direction opposite to each other, a pair of longitudinal side folding arms arranged at a different plane with respect to each other between the folding plate members and the transverse folding arms or transverse and being operated in a direction opposite to each other, a transverse folding plate or transverse folding plate means arranged in the region lying between the transverse folding arms and being operated to be insertable into the space between the pair of transverse folding arms pressing the transverse folding plates are pressed onto a bearing surface, the longitudinal side folding arms, the upper folding plate members are arranged to form a first folding station while the transverse folding plates and said transverse folding arms are arranged for forming a second folding station.

In the folding apparatus according to the present invention the folding plate members of the upper folding plate are adapted to move on a short path on their effective or operating position and they provide for the securing of the article to be folded in that the distance between their frontal edges in their rest position corresponds to the largest length of the article to be folded and that the folding plate members can be set upon the transverse folding arm means.

In order to provide for a reliable support of the article to be folded during the passing of the article through the first folding process, the invention proposes that the distance between the frontal edges of the transverse folding arm means in their rest position corresponds in width to the transverse folding parameter which is determined by the lower transverse folding plate.

In the event extremely thin goods are to be folded, then it may become necessary that before the first folding is made, a fold device should be placed onto the article which is spread out. This requirement is solved by the present invention in that at least one of the folding plate members of the upper folding plate is provided on its bottom side with securing means, which are in the form suction nozzles, and which not only provides for a reliably holding of the folding good, but also it is able to apply a tension to the article to be folded due to the fact that the folding plate members when placed on the article undergo a slight rearward movement.

In order that simultaneously with the-performance of the second folding process on the first article to be folded the next article could be inserted and, on it the first folding process could be performed, the invention provides between the folding devices of the first folding station and the folding device of the second folding station an intermediate arm which can be brought into operating and rest positions according to a predetermined sequence as the good passes between the folding stations.

By the above-described arrangement of the intermediate arm, the article to be folded can be fully spread out on the stationary cover means arranged above the longitudinal side folding arms and onto the intermediate arm means which in its operating position is located underneath a recess formed in the cover means. The intermediate arm at the end of the folding process performed by the folding means of the first folding station is shortly returned into its rest position so that the middle region of the pre-folded article can be moved slightly upward into the path of the transverse plate means of the second folding station. As soon the transverse fold plate of the second folding station lies against the article to be folded over the entire length thereof, the folding means of the second folding station starts to perform a folding operation on the article and the intermediate arm can be moved out to receive the next following article in its operating position and, thereby, the insertion time and the time required for folding in the first station for the next following article can overlap with the operating interval of the second folding station.

In the event the intermediate arm is arranged in such a manner that it is returned in its initial position shortly when the transverse folding arm has not reached yet its initial position, then it is advantageous if between the two effective positions of the intermediate arm and, at least one of the transverse folding arms, a fixed bearing surface is provided for supporting the pre-folded article.

A reliable bearing surface for the pre-folded article is provided having a bearing surface in the form of a plurality of suction nozzle groups which protrude into recesses provided in the intermediate arm.

In the event it is desired that the region of the article lying on the second transverse folding arm should be most accurately supported against a shifting of its position in order to retain a great accuracy of the folding, then the invention provides thatthe second transverse folding arm has a plurality of slots formed therein running parallel with respect to the direction of movement thereof and in such slots fixed suction nozzles are provided which protrude into recess provided in the intermediate member running parallel with respect to the direction of movement of the intermediate member.

In order that during the movement of the intermediate member from its initial position to its operating position a relative movement between the folded article and the intermediate member to be avoided, there is provided a cover plate means movable below a plane under the intermediate arm and in a direction parallel to the transverse folding plate and onto which the transverse folding arm can be set to rest.

Since the cover plate means moves at a certain distance above the plane of the pre-folded article and, the transverse folding plate after its shoving movement must perform also a downward movement, the invention provides that the cover plate means should be coupled with the transverse folding plate means in order to be able to perform the component of motion in the plane of the transverse folding arm, however, it is independently movable in the plane running transversely with respect to the plane of the transverse folding plate, such independent motion is with respect to the transverse folding plate.

In order thatduring the movement of the transverse folding plate and especially during the transferring of the article from the first to the second foldingstation, a side shifting ofthe article could be avoided, under the plane of the longitudinal side folding arms, between the transverse folding plate and the transverse folding arms fixed bosses are provided for the article and, wherein;

the transverse folding plate is provided with slots running parallel with respect to the direction of its movement.

In the event in the second folding station the region of the article which is laid on one of the transverse folding plates should undergo to a folding process in a single operating process, then this can be attained in such a manner that in this region of the article the transverse. folding arm and the transverse folding plate which operates in this regionQare formed at least from a pairof plates spaced from each other and in which the lower plate of the transverse folding means can be inserted into the space formed between the two plates of the transverse folding plate meansv In order that a most accurate folding could be had;

it has been found advantageous in the present invention if the individual plates of the transverse folding arms can be moved independently from each other.

In the event the articles to be folded do not have a uniform length, then it is preferred, according to the present invention, if the effective stroke of the upper plate of the transverse folding arm is adjustable 'inorder that thereby the length of one of the front endsof the article could be adjusted so that the eventual length of the folded goods will not appear to have any difference and thereby any difference in the folded length are ably formed as a hollow body and provided on its lower side with apcratures to which a suction conduit can be coupled. I

By using a double arm transverse folding plate and the double arm transverse 'folding arm, at a certain length of the folded article there will be altogether six layers therein lying on top of each other. Inasmuch as the individual transverse folding arms and also the, plates of a transverse folding plate means must have a certain thickness for structural reasons which can not be reduced any further, they must be vertically dis- I placed with respect to each other in order to exercise the operating movement against each other and, as a result of this,the individual layers of the folded article at the end of the folding process will lie relatively loose on each other and the folded article would have an un-,

desirable height.

The invention, therefore, provides for the pressing of the folded article at the end of the folding process by the provisions of a plurality of conveyor bands spaced with respect to each other and a pressing means plated underneath the delivery plane of the conveyor means and which pressing means can be moved vertically and enter the space between the conveyor bands with its pressing strips, As a result, the folded article becomes pressed against the transverse folding arm which is still in its operating position and, thereby. the article in its completed form will have very accurate folded parameters or dimensions.

A good pressing of the individual folds can be had by the provision that the distance between the outermost conveyor bands is smaller than the longitudinal folding parameter of the final folding good and along the sides of the two outer conveyor bands there is provided a pressure strip of the pressing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view in schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the folding apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII in FIG. 1 and wherein the folding of the first folding station is illustrated in operating position,

FIG. 2a is similar to FIG. 2, but without most of the elements, for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along line III- III of FIG. 1 and, wherein the folding means of the second folding station is illustrated in its operating position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view in schematical illustration of a further embodiment of the folding apparatus according to the present invention, the manner of illustration being similar as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along line VV of FIG. 3 and, wherein the folding means of the first folding station and the intermediate folding arm are illustrated in their operating position;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 4 and, wherein the folding means of the second folding station and the intermediate folding arm are illustrated in their operating position;

FIG. 7 is a partial section taken along the line VII- VII of FIG. 4 and where the transverse folding table has been lowered;

FIG. 8 is a partial section taken along the line VIII- -VIII in FIG. 4 after the lower plate of the transverse folding arm has been inserted;

FIG. 9 is a partial section taken along the line VII- VII in FIG. 4 at the end of the second folding process;

FIG. 10 is a plan view onto the transverse folding plate;

FIG. 11 is a section along the line XI-XI in FIG. 10;

and

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating the transverse folding plate in its inserted position and the cover plate and a transverse folding arm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS for movement transversely over each other and are displaced in height with respect to each other. The movement of the longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 is effected by means of a pneumatic cylinder arrangement which is not illustrated in the drawing to avoid a crowding of the essential parts of the invention. Above the two longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 there is arranged a cover or covermeans 7 which is illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG. 1 which serves as the bearing table or supporting table for the folding article 1 in its spread out state, that is, before folding. The cover 7 extends over the entire width and length of the longitudirial side folding arms 5 and 6 and is provided with a recessed region 7' the length of which is larger by a certain amount than the length of the longitudinal folding arms 5 and 6 and the width of which larger by a certain amount than the distance between the two longitudinal folding arms 5 and 6. In order to aid the insertion of the folding article 1 onto the cover means 7, there is pro vided a boss in the form of a guide strip 8 which is arranged with a certain distance with respect to one of the longitudinal edges of the recessed region 7. With the two longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 an upper folding plate 9 cooperates and is sub-divided into two upper folding plate members or folding plate members 10 and 11 the maximum frontal distance between which substantially corresponds to the length of the two longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6. The two folding plate members 10 and 11 of the upper folding plate 9 are journalled in the stand 4 at a certain height and in a longitudinally slideable fashion and, in addition to their longitudinal movement they are adapted additionally to perform a vertically directed movement during or after their longitudinal movement for a purpose hereinafter described. Their drive is also accomplished by means of a pneumatic cylinder which is not shown in the drawing.

With reference especially to FIGS. 1-3, the operation, in general, is as follows:

The goods to be folded are placed with their middle region onto the transverse side folding arm means 13, I4. The two side portions of the goods lie on the cover means 7. The upper folding plate members 10, 11 are at this point sideways and above the goods to be folded.

The upper folding plate members 10, 11 at first move in a horizontal plane towards each other. At the end of this movement both are moved downwards and come to rest on the middle portion of the goods to be folded which lies on the transverse side folding arm means. The two longitudinal side folding arm means 5, 6 arranged at different heights above the operating position of the upper folding plate members 10, ll, carry out successively their movement towards one another in a horizontal plane and thereby form one after the other the two longitudinal folds of the goods in cooperation with the longitudinal edges of each of the upper folding plate members 10, 11. At the end of this first folding process, the thus pre-folded goods come to lie on the two transverse side folding arm means l3, 14; at this time the two upper folding plate members 10, 11 and the longitudinal side folding arm 5 is located within the goods, while the longitudinal side folding arm 6 lies on the top surface of the material. Subsequently the two longitudinal side folding arm members 5, 6 are led back to their initial position by a shifting movement occurring each time in a horizontal plane. The transverse side folding plate 12 which is in its initial position below the longitudinal side folding arm means 6, initially moves in horizontal direction coming to rest above the portion of the goods to be folded (determined by bearing surface 15).Thereupon the transverse side folding plate 12 moves vertically downward and thereby presses the pre-folded material onto the bearing surface 15. In this position of the transverse side folding plate member 12, the transverse side folding arm means l3, 14 which are arranged at different heights relative to one another begin one after the other their shifting movement, whereupon the front edges of the transverse side folding arm means 13, 14 move toward each other, and simultaneously the upper folding plate members 10, 11 which are still within the goods to be folded, retract from the material.

During the return movement of the transverse side folding arm means 13, 14, they only carry out a shifting movement which is always in a horizontal plane, while the transverse side folding plate 12 which in its low position initially moves in a horizontal plane after which it returns to its initial position by a vertical upwardsdirected movement.

In a preferred embodiment, both folding plate mem: bers l and 11 are constructed as a hollow body and are provided on their lower side with apertures, and are coupled to a pneumatic suction conduit. In the present case, under the rest position of the folding plate members 10 and 11 there is a stack of the goods to be folded, which could be either paper or paper board material, or textile articles.

Directly under the above-described upper folding station including the folding means 5, 6, 9 are arranged the folding means of a lower folding station. Such lower folding station includes a transverse folding plate 12 which is arranged for movement under the longitudinal side folding arm 6 and parallel to the direction of movement thereof. The transverse folding plate 12 in addition to its movement in a horizontal plane is arranged also to perform a vertical movement and, accordingly, at the end of its shoving movement which is its operat' ing position, it performs a movement downwardly and vertically directed for a purpose which will be described in more detail hereinafter. With the transverse folding plate 12 a pair of transverse folding arms 13 and 14 are in cooperation, the transverse folding arms 13 and 14 being arranged vertically displaced with respect to each other and, as it can be seen especially in FIG. 1, they are arranged between the longitudinal side folding arms 5, 6 when they are in their rest position, and also the transverse folding arms 13 and 14 are arranged on the stand 4 in a slideable fashion. The lower transverse folding arms 13 and 14, which are arranged at a level under the longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 and also under the folding plate members 10 and 11, are arranged for movement transversely with respect to their associated lower transverse folding plate 12 and are operated by a pneumatic cylinder arrangement not illustrated in the drawing.

Underneath the region which is defined by the folding edges of the lower transverse folding arms 13 and I4 and the folding edges of the longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 and the length of which corresponds to the transverse length parameter E of the fold and the width which corresponds to the length of the longitudinal fold parameter L of the readily folded article 1', there is provided a bearing surface 15 for the goods on which the folding operation has been performed which,

in th: llustrated embodiment, includes a plurality of closely arranged conveyor means or conveyor such as delivery or conveyor bands 16. such conveyor bands 16, as it can be seen in FIG. 2, are guided by a pair of guide rollers 17, 18 mounted in the stand 4, and their purpose is to bring the readily folded articles 1' into the region of a stacking station 19. The stacking station 19 is provided with a stacking arm 20 which can operate between the two delivery bands 16 and which brings the folded goods on the stack from below and up by means of carrying arms 21 which are pivotably journalled on rods 22. To select out the rejects there is provided a chute 23 behind the guide roller 18.

The operation of the folding apparatus is as follows: It is assumed that all the folding means of the folding apparatus are in their initial or rest position and that.

other which corresponds to the largest length L of the good 1 to be folded. Both folding plate members 10 and 11 the width of which correspond to the fold parameter E are in their initial position, that is, somewhat sideways of the two frontal sides 3 of the good to be folded l, and above the plane of the cover means 7. The transverse folding plate 12, the width of which corresponds to the fold parameter E is in itsinitial position and is below the longitudinal side folding arm 6 The two transverse folding arms 13 and 14 which coopcrate with arm 6 are in their initial position in which the distance between their frontal edges is somewhat larger than the transverse fold parameter E They are at a position under the level. of the transverse folding plate 12. From this initial position of the folding means one can see that the good 1 lies on the cover means 7.in the region of both of its longitudinal sides 2. The. middle region of the good 1, the width of such middle region corresponding substantially to the fold parameter E,, ,is

above the recessed region 7' of the cover means 7 and,

as a result, it is hanging somewhat downward. Such a middle region will fall onto the transverse folding arms 13 and 14 since the transverse folding arms 13 and 14 in their initial position are closely under the level ofthe longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6. As a result, the region or surface of the good 1 defined by the frontal edges of the transverse folding arms 13 and 14, and the width of the reset region 7' of the cover means 7 will not be supported.

Next both folding plate members 10 and 11 of the upper folding plate 9 move toward each other and also I downwardly thereafter. They are moving through the recessed region 7' of the cover means 7, and at the end of their movement they come to rest on the transverse folding arms 13 and 14. As a result, the region of the:

good I to be folded which is lying above the recessed region 7' will be pressed onto the transverse folding arms 13 and 14. The folding plate members 10 and 11 i which, as the result of the above operation, lie onthe good 1 to be folded will assume their operating position in which their side edges running parallel with the loo- 7 gitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6, as shown in FIG. 2a

form a folding edge for the longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 as shown in FIG. 2a. This will execute one after the other their operational movement directed toward each other and, as a result, will perform the folding of both edge regions of the longitudinal sides 2 of the good 1 to be folded about the folding plate members 10, 11 which are now inserted into the good 1. The upper folding plate 9 and both longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 assume at the end of the above-described folding process the position illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the longitudinal side folding arm 5 and both folding plate members 10 and 11 of the upper folding plate 9 are within the initially folded good 1 while the longitudinal side folding arm 6 lies on the upper side of the good 1. The folding good 1 is folded up to now to the parameter E Both longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 become one after the other returned to their initial position and, simultaneously with such returning operation, the lower transverse folding plate 12 performs a movement directed parallel to the movement of the longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 and comes to rest in the region of the folding good 1 which falls between the two frontal edges of the transverse folding arms 13 and 14. During their further execution of their operating movement, the arms 13 and 14 move downwardly while lying on the good 1. As a result the region of the good 1 which lies between the frontal edges of the transverse folding arms 13 and 14, which are still in theirrest position, will be moved downwardly and comes to rest on a bearing surface or table 15 arranged under the plane of the transverse folding arms 13 and 14. The transverse folding arms 13 and 14 perform one after the other their operating movement directed transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the lower transverse folding plate 12 and also toward each other and, as a result, they shove the region of the two frontal sides 3 of the good 1 over the folding edges of the lower transverse folding plate 12. Simultaneously, the folding plate members 10 and 11 of the upper folding plate 9 become pulled out of the folding good 1 in a direction against their horizontal operating movement and are returned in their initial position. At the end of the operating movement of the transverse folding arms 13 and 14 the now finally folded good 1 will have a fold parameter E wherein the transverse folding arm 13 and 14 will assume the position illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the lower transverse folding plate 12 and the transverse folding arm 14 are within the folded good 1 and the transverse folding arm 13 lies against-it.

Since during the operating movement of the transverse folding arms 13 and 14 both folding plate members 10 and 11 of the upper folding plate 9 are within 'the folding good 1 but are moved back, and the lower transverse plate 12 will lie up against the middle region of the good 1, the result is an extremely accurate folding operation wherein the folding good 1 from its spread-out position illustrated in FIG. 1 will practically remain in a rest position until its folded parameters E and E have been reached, that is, it is undergoing only a folding operation but no other movements.

After the lower transverse plate 12 and both of the transverse folding arms 13 and 14 become withdrawn from the folded material 1', the drive of the conveyor 16 is turned on and the material 1 is delivered to the stacking station 19. Here it is placed on the top of the stack by means of the stacking arm 20 moving upwardly and which is carried by an arm 21 which can be pivoted about a horizontal axle upward and then returned into an initial position.

With reference to FIGS. 4-11 which illustrate a further embodiment of the folding apparatus according to the present invention, it can be seen that the article to be folded l is folded on both longitudinal side 2 and on both its frontal sides 3 during which the front side region which is the last side as viewed in FIG. 4 must be folded several times. The basic embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 contains a plurality of common elements with FIGS. 4-12; therefore, those which have been already described in connection with FIGS. 1-3 are only mentioned here but not described again in greater detail, to avoid redundancy. Also the same reference numerals are used for the parts which appear again in FIGS. 4-12.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, under the operating level or plane of the folding plate members 10, 11, however, above the plane of the transverse folding arms 13 and 14, an intermediate arm 25 is arranged which extends over the entire length of the longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 and which is arranged for movement in the plane parallel to the plane of movement of the longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6. The intermediate arm 25 in its operating position overlaps the region of the good 1 which lies below the recessed region 7 of the recessed 7 and covers thereby also both of the transverse folding arms 13 and 14. The intermediate arm 25 is driven by a drive which is not shown in the drawings and which is preferably a pneumatically operated cylinder and which moves the intermediate arm 25 into its rest position lying below the longitudinal folding arm 5. The intermediate arm 25, as can be seen in FIG. 4, is provided with a pair of recesses 26 and 27 running parallel with the direction of movement thereof.

Below the operating plane of the intermediate arm 25, however, above the plane of the transverse folding arm 14, there is provideda stationary bearing surface 28 which can be in the form of a plate for the purpose of receiving the pre-folded good 1 which passed through the first folding station and which extends in a plane parallel with the intermediate arm 25 starting from the front edge of the folding plate member 11 and extending to the region of the left folding edge of the lower transverse folding plate 12. The bearing surface 28 is provided with two groups of suction nozzles 29 arranged parallel with the direction of movement of the intermediate arm 25 and which in the operating position of the intermediate arm 25 protrude into recesses 26 provided therein. In the transverse folding arm 13, as it can be seen in FIG. 4, there are formed slots 30 which run parallel with respect to each other and the arrangement is such that each slot 30 has a pair of suction nozzles 31 associated therewith and which serve for the securing of the pre-folded article 1. The suction nozzles 31 are arranged in height with respect to the transverse folding arm 13 in such a manner and to such extent that in the operating position of the intermediate arm 25 they protrude into the recesses 27 formed thereon.

The transverse folding arm 14, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, is made up from a pair of plates 32 and 33 which are arranged parallel and with a distance with respect to each other and which are adapted to move independently from each other. Also each of which is driven by a pneumatic cylinder arrangement, not

shown in the drawing. The stroke ofthe cylinder which moves the upper plate 33 can be made adjustable in a known manner and constructed accordingly. Following such construction of the transverse folding arm 14, also the transverse folding plate 12 which cooperates with the arm 14 is made up from plates 34 and 35 arranged parallel with each other and with a distance, therebetween. The plates 34 and 35 are connected by means of a web 36 with each other; therefore, they move together. The plates 34 and 35 of the transverse folding plate 12 are provided with similar slots 37 which run parallel with the direction of movement of the plate 12 and which, during the operating position of the transverse plate 12, serve to receive a boss 38 which is securely mounted on the stand 4. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the lower plate 35 is constructed as a hollow body and at its lower side it is provided with suction apertures 39. The apertures 39 are coupled by means of a connecting piece 40 to a controlled suction air conduit 42.

On the side surface of the lower transverse folding plate 12 facing the second transverse folding arm 13 there is provided a guide 42 secured thereto, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 12, which serves for the guiding of a cover plate 34 operating on the pre-folded article 1. The cover plate 43 lies above the plane of the tansversc folding arm 13 in a plane parallel to the plane thereof and is movable in such plane together with the transverse folding plate 12. It is arranged in the guide 42 in such a manner that it is movable in the vertical direction independently from the transverse folding plate 12. This effect can be attained constantly in a simple fashion by providing an independent pneumatic operating cylinder separately for the transverse folding plate 12 and the cover plate 43 in order to attain their independent vertical movement.

In order that the article 1 at the end of the folding process could be pressed together to a certain thickness, there is provided under the bearing surface 15 formed by the conveyor bands 16 a pressing means 44 movable vertically and which comprises a plurality of pressure srips 45 directed parallel with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor means 16. The pressure strips 45 ac arranged in the intermediate spaces available between the individual conveyor bands 16 and can be lifted upward above the plane of the conveyor means 16. As can be seen from FIGS. 4, 7 and 9, the relative arrangement of the pressure strips 45 and the conveyor means 16 is such that, adjacent to a pair of conveyor means 16, there is always a pressure strip 45'present.

The further embodiment of the folding apparatus according to the present invention operates as follows:

It is again assumed just as well as in connection with the first embodiment of the invention, that the folding 7 means of both folding stations are in their initial or rest positions and that the article 1 is prepared and spread out onto the folding arrangement, more particularly, it lies on the cover means 7 and is aligned along the guide strip 8.

As it can be seen in FIG, 4 both longitudinal side folding arms and 6 are at their rest position below the cover means 7 while the front edges of both folding plate members and 11 facing each other are placed with a distance with respect to each other, such dis tance corresponding to the largest length L,,,,,, of the good 1 to be folded. Both folding plate members 10 and 11 the width of which corresponds to the folding parameter E are in their initial or rest position. which means that they are located sideways on'both of the frontal sides 3 of the article I and above the plane of cover means 7. the transverse folding plate 12, the

width of which corresponds to the folding parameter,

E assumes its initial rest position and is located under the longitudinal side folding arm 6. The transverse folding arms 13 and 14 which cooperate with arm 6 are in their initial or rest position in which the distance between their frontal facing sides is somewhat,

larger than the folding parameter E They are located considering their vertical displacement, below the level of the transverse foldingplates 12. The intermediate, 7

arm 25 is not in its rest position indicated in- FIG. 4 in which it would be below the longitudinal folding arm'S,

it is rather in its operating postion in which it covers both the transverse folding arm 13 and the bearing surface 28 as well as the region of the article 1 formedby the folding parameters E and E -i From this initial or rest position of the folding means, one may see that the folding article 1, in the region of both its longitudinal sides thereof, lies against the cover 7, while its middle:

region the width of which substantially corresponds to the folding parameter E lies above the recessed rej gion 7 of the cover means 7, and it is sagging down- 1 wardly by a slight amount. This region of the, article 1 lies on the intermediate arm 25. Inasmuch as' in the effective or operating position of the intermediate arm 25 the suction nozzle group 29 of the bearing surface 28,

protrudes intothe recesses 26 and the suction nozzle 31 arranged within the slots 30 of the transverse folding arm 13 protrudes into the recesses27'of the intermediate arm 25, the article l-will be securely sucked onto the intermediate arm 25.

Next the two folding plates 10 and 1 1 of the upper folding plate 9- perform their movement toward each.

other and downwardlyrThey move through the retheir operating position on which their side edges running parallel with the longitudnal side folding arms 5 and 6 will form a folding edge for the longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6. The arms 5 and 6 perform their operating movement directed towards each other and,

as a result, fold both the edge regions of the longitudinal sides 2 of the article 1 about the folding plate mem-. bers 10 and 11 which now enter the material 1. The upper folding plate 9 and both longitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 assume at the end of this folding process the position illustrated in FIG. 5 in which the longitudinal side folding arm 5 and both folding plate members 10 and 11 of the upper folding plate 9 are located within the pre-folded material 1, and the longitudinal side folding arm 6 lies against the upper side of the ma-.

terial. The article 1 is now folded to the folding parameterE and lies with its length on the intermediate arm Bothlongitudinal side folding arms 5 and 6 become withdrawn into their rest or initial position and the intermediate arm 25 iswithdrawn into its ineffective or rest position. The article 1 becomes thereby securedby means of the suction nozzle group 29 and the suction nozzle group 31 against shifting after the intermediate arm 25 becomes withdrawn therefrom and will lie on the bearing surface 28 and on the transverse folding arm 13. The region of the article 1 which is formed by the width of the recessed region 7' of the cover means 7 and the distance between the frontal sides of the transverse folding arms 13 and the bearing surface 28 is, therefore, not supported.

The transverse folding plate 12 now will perform a movement which is directed parallel to the direction of the movement of the longitudinal folding arms and 6. As a result, the lower plate 35 of the transverse folding plate 12 comes to rest on the region of the article 1 which lies between the bearing surface 28 and the frontal sides of the transverse folding arm 13. The cover plate 43 which is rigidly coupled with the transverse folding plate 12 for movement in the horizontal plane will be shoved onto the region of the article 1 which lies above the transverse folding arm 13. Since both folding plate members 10 and 11 at this point are still within the article 1, a shifting or sliding of the region of the article which lies on the transverse folding arm 13 is prevented, which otherwise would come about due to the moving of the cover plate 43. During the remainder of its operating movement the transverse folding plate 12 moves upwardly whereupon the region of the article 1 lying against the bottom side of the plate 35 becomes securely sucked against the plate 35 by the apertures 39 and, thereby a wrinkle-free abutting of the region of the article 1 on the bottom side of the plate 35 is at tained. the bosses 38 which in the inserted position of the transversed folding plate 12 protrude into the recesses 37, represent also a precaution against the shifting of the pre-folded artilce. During the upwardly directed movement of the trasverse folding plate 12 the region of the article 1 which lies between the bearing surface 28 and the transverse folding arm 13 becomes pressed downward and will come to rest on the bearing surface which lies below the plane of both transverse folding arms 13 and 14 and which surface 15 is formed by the conveyor bands 16 spaced with a distance with respect to each other. The cover plate 43 during the downward movement of the transverse folding plate 12 becomes moved downwardly to an extent until it lies against the article 1. The article 1 will assume the position illustrated in the partial sections of FIGS. 7 and 8 in which the region of the right front side lying on the transverse folding arm 13 is covered by the cover plate 43 and the region of the article 1 which corresponds to a transverse folding parameter E lies between the bearing surface 15 and the lower plate 35 of the transverse folding plate, while the region of the left front side, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, lies on the bearing surface 28 and is securely held by the suction nozzle group 29.

Next the intermediate arm will be brought into is operating position in which it covers the pre-folded article 1 in the region above the cover plate 43 and above the transverse folding arm 13. During this movement of the intermediate arm 25 the pre-folded article 1 is still secured by the suction nozzle group 29 on the bearing surface 28 and by the suction nozzle 31 on the transverse folding arm l3. Inasmuch as the substantial length of the transverse folding arm 13 moves above the plane of the cover plate 43, a shifting of the prefolded article 1 during the movement of the intermediate arm 25 into its operating position, is reliably prevented.

Both transverse folding arms 13 and 14 perform one after the other their operating movement in the direction transversely to the direction of movement of the lower transverse folding plate 12 and opposite to each otherand shove thereby the region of the two frontal sides 2 and 3 of the prefolded article 1 over the folding edges of the transverse folding plate 12. Since both plates 32 and 33 of the transverse folding arms 14 are movable independently, next the plate 32 will perform its movement. It will shove one portion of the left region of the frontal side of the article 1 into the region between the two plates 34, 35 of the transverse folding plate 12, so that the article 1 at the end of this operating movement of the plate 32 of the transverse folding arm 14 will assume the position shown in FIG. 8.

Next the upper plate 33 of the transverse folding arm 14 performs its operating movement and shoves the remaining part of the front of the article from its FIG. 8 position over the upper plate 34 of the lower folding plate 12. The article now lies with the free end of the left front edge on the upper side of plate 33 of the arm 14. Since the stroke of arm 33 is adjustable, by changing its magnitude, it becomes possible that in the event of a shorter article the position of the free end of the front edge can be adjusted.

Next to the operating movement of the plate 33 of arm 14 the arm 13 performs its folding operation and shoves thereby the region of the right front edge of the article 1 over the edge of the plate 33 of arm 14. At the end of this movement the article will assume the position shown in FIG. 9 in which its lower layer lies on the surface 15 and the plates 32, 35 of plate 12 are still within the layrs of the article 1 and the arm 13 covers the finally folded article 1.

While the transverse folding arm 14 and also the lower plate 12, as soon as the suction conduit 41 is closed, along with cover plate 43, become withdrawn from the layers of article 1' by performing a movement in a horizontal plane and are returned into their rest position, the transverse folding arm 13 for a short time remains in its operating position, and now it will serve as counter service to the press 44 moving upwards. The pressure strips 45 of the press 44 will move out of the plane of the conveyor bands 16 and press the readily folded article 1 against the lower side of the transverse folding arm 13. In this position the so-far loosely lying layers of the article 1 become pressed together whereupon both edge regions having the transverse folded parameter E will lie against the outer pressure strips 45 and any wrinkles which are still present will become pressed out.

After the transverse folding arm 13 and the press 44 are returned into their initial rest positions, the drive of the conveyor bands 16 is turned on and the article 1 is delivered to the stacking station 19. Here it will be delivered onto the top of the stack by means of the stacking arm 20 and carrying arms 21 which pivot upwardly about a horizontal axle and then return-into their initial position.

While the transverse folding arms 13 and 14 perform their operating movement, the upper folding plate members 10 and 11 of the first folding station are returned into their initial position and, at the same time, the next article 1 can be put onto the cover means 1 and the next operating process can start by the operating movement of the transverse folding arms 13 and I4 and can be laid over the arms 13 and 14 and over the intermediate arm 25 now in its operating position again and aligned against strip 8. The intermediate arm 25 forms between the folding members 5, 6, 9, l and 11 of the first folding station and the folding members 12,

l3, l4 of the second folding station a sort of separating intermediate means which at the end of each folding process in the first folding station is returned shortly into its initial position and permits a transfer of the prefolded article 1 to the transverse folding plate 12 of the second folding station and, thereby, it is attained that the insertion time and a part of the run-time for the first folding process of the next following article, will fall into the operating interval of both transverse folding arms 13 and 14 of the second folding station while operating on the first article.

As soon as the second article has undergone the fold ing process in the first folding station, and the folding means 12, 14 of the second folding station are returned again into their initial position after having performed the operating movements of the first article, the intermediate arm 25 will again shortly return its ineffective or initial position. As a result, the second article is brought into the second folding station and the second operating procedure can be performed on it as soon as the intermediate arm25 is returned in its operating position and simultaneously the next following article can be undergoing the pre-folding in the other station.

In the above, the operation and the details of the apparatus of a folding arrangement having an intermediate arm'25 has been described. It becomes apparent for an expert in the field that one may provide for several, for example, for three folding stations, which then require the provision of an intermediate arm between the first and second folding stations and as well as between the second and third folding stations. The sequence of operation then would be adjusted also accordingly following the basic principles above described.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A folding apparatus for the multiple folding of soft goods, comprising vertically spaced first and second folding stations, the latter being arranged below the plane of said first folding station;

said first folding station comprising:

a pair of longitudinal side folding arm means, and a pair of upper folding plate members having longitudinal edges, said longitudinal arm means being disposed above said upper plate members and movable in different horizontal planes with respect to each other,

said second folding station comprising:

a pair of transverse side folding arm means arranged below both horizontal planes of movement of the two longitudinal arm means, said transverse arm means having spaced apart front sides, and

a transverse side folding plate means operable to be disposed between said front sides in a working plane and cooperating with said transverse arm means for forming a transverse side fold in the soft goods;

a l ing surface arranged below the working plane of said transverse plate means; means operable for moving said upper plate members in a horizontal direction toward each other, and in a verticale direction onto said pair of transverse arm means and thereby pressing the soft goods lying on said transverse arm means; means operable for successively reciprocating said longitudinal arm means toward one another in their respective horizontal planes, said arm means folds said soft goods in cooperation with said upper plate members thereby successively producing two longitudinal folds, one on each longiudinal side of the soft goods; means for moving said transverse plate means into the space between said front sides, and means for I moving said transverse plate means downwardly. for pressing a region of the partially folded soft 2. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim .1, 3

wherein the distance between the longitudinal edges of said folding plate members in their rest positions corresponds to the largest length of the goods to be folded and the upper folding plate members are arranged for lying on said transverse side folding arm means.

3. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 2,.

wherein the distance between the longitudinal edges of said transverse side folding arm means in the rest position thereof corresponds to the width of the transverse side folding plate means.

4. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 13,

wherein one of said upper folding plate members is pro-. 1 vided with securing means on the bottom side thereof for retaining said article to be folded.

5. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein fixed boss means are provided below the plane of said longitudinal side folding arm means and between said transverse folding plate means and said transverse side folding arm means for engaging said article to be folded and, wherein said transverse side fold ing plate means comprises slots running parallel with:

respect to the direction of movement of said transverse side folding plate means. 7

6. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim.- 1, wherein an intermediate arm means is arranged between said first folding station and said second folding station, means for operating said intermediate arm means between a rest position and an operating position.

7. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein a fixed bearing surface is provided between the operating position of said intermediate arm means and one of said transverse side folding arm means for receiving thereon the article to be folded.

8. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 7,

wherein said bearing surface comprises a plurality of suction nozzle groups arranged parallel with respect to the direction of movement of said intermediate arm means, said intermediate arm means comprising a plu' rality of recesses formed therein, said nozzle means protruding into said recesses.

9. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said transverse side folding arm means comprises a plurality of slots running parallel in the direction of movement of said transverse side folding arm means, a plurality of suction nozzle means arranged in said slots, said intermediate arm means comprising recesses directed parallel with respect to the direction of movement of said intermediate arm means, said suction nozzles of said transverse side folding arm means protruding into said recesses in said intermediate member.

10. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein below the plane of said intermediate arm means a cover plate means is provided movable parallel with respect to said transverse side folding plate means, said cover plate means being adapted to be set on said transverse side folding arm means.

11. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cover plate means is coupled with said transverse side folding plate means for performing a movement in a plane of said transverse side folding arm means, means for operating said cover plate means in a plane transversely to the plane of direction of move- I between the pair of plate means of said transverse folding plate means.

13. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said plate means of said transverse side folding arm means are movable independently from each other.

14. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the upper plate means of said transverse side folding arm means has an effective stroke which is adjustable.

15. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 12, including a suction conduit means operable to produce a suction, and wherein the lower plate of said transverse side folding plate means is constructed as a hollow body and comprises on a bottom side thereof a plurality of apertures, and means for operably coupling said suction conduit means to said apertures.

16. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said bearing surface comprises a plurality of conveyor means spaced with a distance with respect to each other, a pressing means provided below the plane of said conveyor band means and adapted to be moved vertically, said pressing means comprises a plurality of pressure strips arranged alternatively between adjacent ones of said conveyor means for moving to the general plane of said conveyor means for pressing said article to be folded against said lower plate means.

17. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the distance between the outermost members of said conveyor means is smaller than the longitudinal folding length of said soft goods, and said pressure strips being arranged on both sides of said outermost of 

1. A folding apparatus for the multiple folding of soft goods, comprising vertically spaced first and second folding stations, the latter being arranged below the plane of said first folding station; said first folding station comprising: a pair of longitudinal side folding arm means, and a pair of upper folding plate members having longitudinal edges, said longitudinal arm means being disposed above said upper plate members and movable in different horizontal planes with respect to each other, said second folding station comprising: a pair of transverse side folding arm means arranged below both horizontal planes of movement of the two longitudinal arm means, said transverse arm means having spaced apart front sides, and a transverse side folding plate means operable to be disposed between said front sides in a working plane and cooperating with said transverse arm means for forming a transverse side fold in the soft goods; a bearing surface arranged below the working plane of said transverse plate means; means operable for moving said upper plate members in a horizontal direction toward each other, and in a verticale direction onto said pair of transverse arm means and thereby pressing the soft goods lying on said transverse arm means; means operable for successively reciprocating said longitudinal arm means toward one another in their respective horizontal planes, said arm means folds said soft goods in cooperation with said upper plate members thereby successively producing two longitudinal folds, one on each longiudinal side of the soft goods; means for moving said transverse plate means into the space between said front sides, and means for moving said transverse plate means downwardly for pressing a region of the partially folded soft goods onto said bearing surface, and means to reciprocate said transverse arm means toward each other in a direction normal to the direction of reciprocation of said longitudinal arm means to fold said soft goods over said transverse plate means; means for removing said upper plate members from the folded soft goods.
 2. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the longitudinal edges of said folding plate members in their rest positions corresponds to the largest length of the goods to be folded and the upper folding plate members are arranged for lying on said transverse side folding arm means.
 3. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the distance between the longitudinal edges of said transverse side folding arm means in the rest position thereof corresponds to the width of the transverse side folding plate means.
 4. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of said upper folding plate members is provided with securing means on the bottom side thereof for retaining said article to be folded.
 5. The foldIng apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein fixed boss means are provided below the plane of said longitudinal side folding arm means and between said transverse folding plate means and said transverse side folding arm means for engaging said article to be folded and, wherein said transverse side folding plate means comprises slots running parallel with respect to the direction of movement of said transverse side folding plate means.
 6. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an intermediate arm means is arranged between said first folding station and said second folding station, means for operating said intermediate arm means between a rest position and an operating position.
 7. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein a fixed bearing surface is provided between the operating position of said intermediate arm means and one of said transverse side folding arm means for receiving thereon the article to be folded.
 8. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said bearing surface comprises a plurality of suction nozzle groups arranged parallel with respect to the direction of movement of said intermediate arm means, said intermediate arm means comprising a plurality of recesses formed therein, said nozzle means protruding into said recesses.
 9. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said transverse side folding arm means comprises a plurality of slots running parallel in the direction of movement of said transverse side folding arm means, a plurality of suction nozzle means arranged in said slots, said intermediate arm means comprising recesses directed parallel with respect to the direction of movement of said intermediate arm means, said suction nozzles of said transverse side folding arm means protruding into said recesses in said intermediate member.
 10. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein below the plane of said intermediate arm means a cover plate means is provided movable parallel with respect to said transverse side folding plate means, said cover plate means being adapted to be set on said transverse side folding arm means.
 11. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cover plate means is coupled with said transverse side folding plate means for performing a movement in a plane of said transverse side folding arm means, means for operating said cover plate means in a plane transversely to the plane of direction of movement of said transverse side folding plate means independently.
 12. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said transverse side folding arm means and said transverse side folding plate means comprises each at least a pair of plate means, the plate means of said transverse side folding arm means and said transverse folding plate means being arranged with a distance therebetween forming an upper and lower plate means, the lower plate means of said transverse side folding arm means being insertable into the space between the pair of plate means of said transverse folding plate means.
 13. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said plate means of said transverse side folding arm means are movable independently from each other.
 14. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the upper plate means of said transverse side folding arm means has an effective stroke which is adjustable.
 15. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 12, including a suction conduit means operable to produce a suction, and wherein the lower plate of said transverse side folding plate means is constructed as a hollow body and comprises on a bottom side thereof a plurality of apertures, and means for operably coupling said suction conduit means to said apertures.
 16. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said bearing surface comprises a plurality of conveyor means spaced with a distance with respect to each other, a pressing means provided below the plane of said conveyor Band means and adapted to be moved vertically, said pressing means comprises a plurality of pressure strips arranged alternatively between adjacent ones of said conveyor means for moving to the general plane of said conveyor means for pressing said article to be folded against said lower plate means.
 17. The folding apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the distance between the outermost members of said conveyor means is smaller than the longitudinal folding length of said soft goods, and said pressure strips being arranged on both sides of said outermost of said conveyor means. 